Abhisit stands by Thaksin oil, gas deal claims

Surapong Tovichakchaikul and Hun Xen

Surapong wants proof from opposition leader

24 Jan 2013

Bangkok Post

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva says he stands by his claims that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra gained from oil and gas deals in Cambodia.

Mr Abhisit was reacting to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's remarks that he was always accusing Thaksin of benefiting from deals struck in Cambodia without backing up his claims.

Hun Sen's comments were published in Phnom Penh on Tuesday.

Mr Abhisit said yesterday he always told the truth when he met Hun Sen.

The Cambodian premier should check three pieces of evidence that would prove what he said was true, Mr Abhisit said.

Mr Abhisit said the evidence came from Thaksin's interviews, WikiLeaks and Hun Sen's own statements.

Mr Abhisit said he alleged Thaksin might have something to do with marine, natural gas and oil resources in Cambodia because Thaksin had declared his interest in doing business with Cambodia in relation to these resources.

Thaksin's intention to conduct business in Cambodia also was published in WikiLeaks, Mr Abhisit said.

More importantly, he said, Hun Sen had himself mentioned that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has held talks with Cambodia on this issue.

Mr Abhisit said he was not surprised to learn that Hun Sen was friendly when he met him face to face, but made different remarks when speaking in other forums. He said he thought the public was "well aware of how reliable Hun Sen actually was".

He said he was unsure whether Hun Sen was confused about the information he made public, or he simply pretended to be confused about it.

In line with Hun Sen's remarks, Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul yesterday challenged Mr Abhisit to disclose evidence to prove Thaksin and the Yingluck government had benefited from an oil and gas deal with Cambodia in the overlapping zone.

Mr Surapong said his government has not held any negotiations about the zone with Cambodia as it is a sensitive issue.

He said he was afraid the issue would be whipped up politically by some anti-government groups.

Mr Surapong insisted the government has not held talks about the issue since the Abhisit government ordered the Foreign Affairs Ministry to scrap the Memorandum of Understanding on the overlapping area in November 2009.

The then government issued the order after former deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban visited Cambodia in June 2009 in an attempt to negotiate the overlapping marine zone.

"I want to make the same demand as Hun Sen did. Mr Abhisit must provide evidence proving Thaksin is involved," Mr Surapong said.

"Today, we have to stay with the facts. I don't want to drag it into politics."

Concerning the Preah Vihear temple issue, Mr Surapong said a legal team led by Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Phongthep Thepkachana will go to London on Feb 5 to meet foreign legal consultants there ahead of hearings at the International Court of Justice.

"We are confident we can win the case," he said referring to the dispute with Cambodia over land in the area surrounding the temple.

"But if not, we are considering all means to find a resolution."